(no subject)

[balthier-strahl.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier, Fran, Tivon, Squall and Krja
What: Tivon attempts murder
Where: macalania Spring and the Strahl
When: During a break
Rating: R for child abuse


Seated by the water's edge at the spring in Macalania Forest, his arms were wrapped around Fran as he leaned back against the tree, smiling softly. Squall had offered to babysit, and although he was reluctant to leave the teen at risk, mostly from Krja abuse, he'd agreed and the Strahl was landed in a nearby clearing.

Fran rested her head against Balthier's chest, looking out over the water with a gentle smile on her lips. It was so peaceful and relaxing here. She pressed a soft kiss against Balthier's jaw, purring soft.

Balthier kissed the Viera's ear, nipping it lightly. "Mm... I could forget the world just being here with you, Fran. You look so beautiful," he murmured, nuzzling her gently.

Having been monitoring the Viera and her family, he'd heard about the recent addition to the crew of the Strahl. Heading aboard, after his failed attempt in Rabanastre, Tivon walked along the hall of the Strahl, nudging open the door to the spare room, looking down at Squall and the infant.

"Such a charmer." Fran purred, running her hand lightly over Balthier's stomach. She smiled and leaned in to kiss him softly, before taking a sip of her glass of wine.

Squall was laid out on the bed, almost asleep, with Krja fast asleep on his chest. He blinked his eyes open, staring up at Tivon. "What the...?! What are you doing here?!"

Balthier chuckled lightly and nuzzled at her cheek a little. "I am speaking only words of truth, love." He kissed her back, smiling gently. "I love you."

Tivon gave a dark grin, scooping Krja up off the teen and glancing at the wheelchair. "Hmmm~ How the mighty have fallen~" He hissed, pulling the chair as far away from the bed as the room would allow it before heading towards the door.

Fran brushed her fingers over Balthier's cheek softly, nudging her nose against his. "Mm. I love you too." She leaned into Balthier more.

Squall growled and made a grab for Krja, falling off the bed onto the floor. He hissed in pain, glaring at Tivon. "Give her back!!" He hissed again, shooting a Fire spell at Tivon's ankles, trying to drag himself across the floor to get to him.

Tivon laughed and dodged the spell, casting Sleep on the teen. "Sweet dreams, brat," he hissed, heading out of the room and off the Strahl.

Balthier smiled lightly, sipping his own glass of wine before sighing contentedly, his eyes drifting shut for a brief second. "I am so relaxed~"

Fran snuggled into Balthier, giving a slight yawn. "Mm. Me too. This pace is so... calm..." She purred, letting her own eyes close.

Balthier nuzzled Fran lightly, closing his own eyes as he held her close. "Mm..." He was just so content and relaxed, he could truly drift to sleep.

Walking towards the pirate pair, his smirk darkened at the sight of them. "Well, well, well~ Look what we have here! Say hello to mommy and daddy, Krja~!"

Fran's eyes snapped open at the sound of that voice. She jumped to her feet instantly. "Tivon?! What are you doing with her?!" She growled, eyes darkening to almost black. "Where is Squall?!" Her claws twitched. "Give her back before I gut you!!"

Balthier shifted to his feet, his eyes darkening a little. "Fran. Go and check on Squall. I've got business to settle with this one," he growled, his voice hard and his words being an order to Fran, not a request or suggestion.

Tivon bounced Krja playfully, smiling at her. "Oh, come now. I've held her many times before, Fran. I was her father for an entire month~"

Fran slapped Tivon around the face, leaving claw marks across his cheek. "She has but one father. It is not you. It never was." She glared at him, wishing to disobey Balthier's order, but knowing better than to mess with him when he held that tone of voice. "Balthier... I... I cannot walk away from our child."

"You are not walking away from her. I will keep her safe. Now, go! That is an order, Viera." He spoke hard and his eyes never once left the man holding his daughter.

Tivon hissed as he was slapped, holding Krja away from her mother. He wasn't going to let this chance slip like the last.

Fran gave the slightest of nods. "No mercy, Balthier. Remember that." She murmured, before jogging off back towards the Strahl.

"Remember who you're talking to, Fran." He was the Legendary Sky Pirate Balthier. No mercy? Ha! No problem. His eyes scanned the man holding his child. "Well? What is your problem this time, hm?"

Tivon cuddled Krja, smirking a little. "You and I both know I am Fran's true, first love. Once she has no ties to this... sham of a family, she will have no choice but to realise that herself."

Fran soon found Squall on the floor of the spare room. He was just coming round from the Sleep spell. He blinked up at Fran groggily, before gripping her arms. "Fran!! Tivon... he took her! He took Krja!!!" He squeaked, shaking a little.

Fran wrapped Squall's arms around her neck, lifting him back into the bed, settling him back against the pillows. She gave a nod. "I know. Balthier is with him now. Are you injured?" She asked, looking him over.

He shook his head. "I am fine. I'm sorry... I should've been able to protect her."

Fran shushed him with a single claw. "Rest now. Do not blame yourself. I return to Balthier. We shall get Krja back." The Viera replied, swiftly leaving the Strahl to make her way back to the spring.

Balthier scoffed at Tivon's words. "Why would she love a man like you? All talk and no action, full of empty threats. You think I fear you? Ha! I am the Legendary Sky Pirate Balthier!! I fear no petty mage!" He hissed.

Tivon laughed and strode towards the edge of the water, holding Krja out over it, smirking with madness shining in his eyes. "What will you do now, Legend?"

Fran ran along the Forest paths back towards that spring where she had left Balthier, Tivon and Krja. She skidded to a stop as she entered the area, her eyes falling on Tivon holding Krja over the water.

Tivon laughed wickedly, smiling at Fran. "Welcome back! Just in time for the main feature~!" At that, he threw Krja into the lake, swiftly turning and throwing a poisoned dagger at Fran, hitting her leg.

Balthier choked on his breath. "Krja!!!" He watched the blade hit Fran before he took a deep breath and ran towards the spring, diving into the water, despite not being able to swim.

Fran's legs buckled under her. Her eyes held a look of heartache and betrayal as she looked at Tivon. She pulled that dagger from her leg with a shaking hand, poisoned blood running down her skin to drip onto the ground. Her hands were shaking too much to cast Poisona over herself as she dragged herself to the water's edge. "Balthier?!" She all but screamed, eyes scanning the water.

With his breath held, Balthier's eyes scanned the clear water, soon setting on the child. Moving fast towards her, he held her in one arm as he dragged himself to the surface, taking the deepest breath before wading towards the edge, fast.

Tivon, by this point, assuming both child and father would've drowned, had walked off to his own airship, a beastly smirk on his lips.

Fran's heart stopped beating as she held her breath, fear washing over her. Once she caught sight of Balthier and Krja, she slipped into the water, moving over to them, clinging to them with a tear-stained face.

Balthier gritted his teeth, not wanting to upset her but pushing Fran away gently as he lay Krja on the ground, looking at her as she stopped breathing. Leaning down, still half in the water, he pinched the child's nose, blowing air into her mouth.

Fran let out the softest of squeaks, covering her mouth with her hands as she watched, unable to collect her senses to do anything useful. Her legs buckled once more as that damned poison ran through her veins. "No... NO!!" She sobbed, backing away from father and child.

Balthier breathed hard as he blew five breaths into the child, soon pressing two fingers to her chest to do compressions. "Nghh... c'mon..." He growled, giving thirty compressions before leaning down to give another five breaths.

Fran pulled herself out of the water to kneel beside Krja, taking a tiny, clawed hand in her fingers. "Fight my little one... Stay with us, do not leave. It is not your time to join Hana yet."

Shaking slightly as he repeated the compressions, Balthier leaned down to give more breaths. Though, at the third one, the child coughed up water. The pirate gave a relieved sigh, rolling her on her side and patting her back gently.

Fran let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding before giving a laugh, one of those awkward laughs of relief. By now, her leg was glowing a pale green from the poison.

Balthier rested his hand on Fran's leg, casting Poisona on her before he held Krja on her front in one hand, patting her back to make her cough up the rest of the water. The instant she started wailing at him, he snuggled her up, trembling and soaking wet.

Fran curled an arm around Balthier's neck, resting her forehead against his head as she sobbed, her free hand petting at Krja's hair.

Balthier shivered and trembled, soon handing Krja over to her mother to stand, stagging a few steps and resting one hand against a tree as he retched slightly. "Gods... I can't... believe..." he choked out.

Fran held Krja tight against her chest, holding onto her protectively. She walked over to Balthier, rubbing his lower back gently as he retched.

After a moment, the urge to be sick had passed and he took a shaking breath. "Nhh... Did that really just happen, or am I completely sotted?"

"It... was real..." Fran murmured, stroking his back a little more. "I can't believe Tivon would do such a thing... He was always so kind to me..." She murmured, nuzzlign Krja.

"That... that man... he is not the Tivon you knew. He is some being born of the Occuria. Not Hume." He murmured, shaking his head slightly, shifting to rest against the tree.

"Yet it is because of me that he wishes her harm..." Fran sighed, holding the shivering bundle of hybrid child closer. "Let us return to the Strahl. You both need dry clothing."

Balthier nodded slightly, panting just a little as he curled an arm around Fran, walking back towards the Strahl, leaving their wine and the glasses behind.

Fran held Krja protectively close as they headed back towards the Strahl. "Be gentle on Squall." She murmured as they boarded. She instantly carried Krja to the nursery to get her warm, dry and settled.

"I had no intentions of shouting at him, Fran..." he mumbled, shaking his head a little. Stripping off his shirt, he kicked off his sandals and squirmed out of his wet leathers and boxers, slipping into some pyjama pants before heading to Squall's room, ruffling his hair with a towel as he did. "Hey... you alright?"

Squall instantly sat up more, looking up at Balthier with such a sad, apologetic look. "Krja?! Is she okay???" He asked, ignoring Balthier's question.

"She is fine... a little wet." He smiled softly and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the towel over his wet torso. "Are you okay?" He asked again.

"I should've protected her! I'm such a goddamn idiot!! Who goes to sleep with the door unlocked?! Gods~ I'm so fucking stupid! He just walked right in and took her!!"

"Ah-ah-ah, calm down. There is no point in you getting distressed. None of us expected this. No doubt if I had been in your place, I'd have fallen asleep too." He murmured, pulling Squall into his chest and kissing his head.

Squall sighed and leaned into Balthier a little, frowning a little. "Why are you both wet?" He asked, blinking up at him.

Fran entered the room, carrying Krja. The infant was dressed in a snuggly sleepsuit and didn't look too troubled by the whole incident. Fran sat her on the bed and she instantly crawled to her uncle Squally.

Balthier smiled softly, chuckling as Krja crawled to Squall, tickling a finger down her spine and lightly tugging her tail. "We are wet... because Tivon threw Krja in the spring... a-and I dove in after her." He stammered, swallowing hard. He was still coming to terms with the whole 'I dove in a lake' thing.

Squall blinked a little. If it wasn't for the fact Balthier looked so damn serious, he'd have thought the man was lying. "Jeeze... I'm sorry..."

Fran stroked Balthier's hair lightly, kissing his ear. "Mm. Balthier was so very brave."

Krja squeaked at Balthier, plopping down on her butt to protect her tail. She looked between the three adults, giving a bright smile.

Balthier laughed lightly. "I did not feel brave... in fact, I had to stop myself vomitting..." He scrunched his nose as Krja squeaked at him, leaning down and nudging her nose with his own. "What? Don't you squeak at me, sprite, I saved your life." He purred playfully.

Squall laughed and watched as Balthier and Krja interacted. Balthier was such a wonderful father. It made him miss Loire even more. "Right... you don't like water..." He murmured, remembering the scene at the waterfall in Besaid.

Fran smiled softly at Krja, letting the child grasp her finger.

Krja squeaked at Balthier again, nomming at his nose lightly.

Balthier nodded slightly, after scrunching his nose from having it bitten. "It is not water I dislike. It is drowning." He murmured, shaking his head a little before pouncing on Krja, roaring playfully at her and biting at her earstubs affectionately.

"Drowning? But why fear it? I mean you can swim, right? Right?" Squall asked, watching Balthier as he pounced the child.

Krja flailed, squeaking up at Balthier, kicking her tiny legs. "Dada!!" She squealed, laughing out loud.

Balthier blew a raspberry on Krja's tummy before giving a sheepish grin to Squall. "No. I can't, actually." He then returned his attentions to Krja, holding a leg with his teeth and shaking it lightly.

Squall blinked. "Oh... I see. Well... You're never too old to learn! When I get my sea legs back, I could teach you!" He grinned.

Fran gave a soft laugh. "I have tried for many years to get him to learn."

Krja gripped at Balthier's hair, tugging at it, but laughing all the while. She sat up and blinked up at Fran. "Mama." She squeaked.

Balthier scoffed at Squall and Fran, shaking his head but the instant Krja spoke he gasped and held her out to Fran. "She said 'mama'!"

Squall gave a soft laugh. "Go Krja!" He grinned, giving Balthier a light nudge.

Fran took hold of Krja, giving her a gentle hug. "My smart little angel." She whispered, stroking those light blonde locks.

"She is so intelligent," he murmured, leaning against Squall with a soft yawn, smiling at mother and daughter.

Squall wrapped his arm around Balthier, toying with his hair gently, letting his eyes close for a moment.

Fran held onto Krja, smiling softly at her. "So smart." She smiled.

Krja nuzzled into Fran. "Mama! Dada!" She giggled, wiggling her toes.

Balthier chuckled softly, leaning to nip Squall's jaw once. "Tired, sweetheart?" He asked softly, petting a hand through that chocolate coloured hair.

Squall gave a nod. "A little. I'm so tired all the time these days... I hate it..."

Fran gave Squall's hair a gentle pet. "It is normal. You shall recover your strength soon, love." She murmured, putting Krja down to snuggle up to her favourite uncle!

Balthier pet Krja's hair as she snuggled into Squall, nuzzling the teen lovingly against his neck. "Sleep, if you so wish. We shall watch over you." He whispered.

Squall gave a slight smile. "I really am sorry I let you both down." He whispered as he settled down to sleep.

Fran kissed his head softly. "Shh. We do not blame you."

Balthier snuggled Squall up, kissing him gently by his mouth. "Sleep sweet, my pretty angel." He whispered, resting his chin on the teen's head, his own eyes slipping closed.

Fran pulled the blanket up over the two Humes and the infant, before settling down in the wheelchair to watch over them as they slept.